The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Canada at Level 1, indicating travelers should exercise normal precautions.

Overall Crime and Safety Situation

The U.S. Consulate General in Vancouver does not assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the persons or firms appearing in this report. The American Citizens’ Services unit (ACS) cannot recommend a particular individual or location, and assumes no responsibility for the quality of service provided.

Review OSAC’s Canada-specific page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password.

The State Department’s Regional Security Office in Vancouver, British Columbia oversees and manages safety and security issues for western Canada. The office covers a geographic area that comprises roughly 40% of Canada’s land mass (British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories).

Crime Threats

There is minimal risk from crime in Vancouver. While 2018 reports suggest upward trends in some indices, overall criminal activity is generally lower than levels experienced in comparable cities within the U.S. Property crimes remain by far the biggest threat to residents and visitors alike.

Organized crime, including gang-related crime, is an ongoing issue in the lower mainland of British Columbia (BC). Asian organized crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs operate throughout British Columbia, trafficking goods to the U.S., Australia, and Japan. Asian gangs have long had a dominant presence in BC, and there are indications that members of the Mexican cartels are trying to gain a foothold in the region.

The majority of crimes occurring in Vancouver are non-violent in nature. Theft from autos, shoplifting, and tourist-related incidents are the most prevalent. The downtown east-side corridor typically sees more break-ins involving vehicle and residential theft. Street crime targeting individuals for robberies is rare. In 2018, there were only a handful of reports of non-violent incidents affecting official U.S. personnel. These isolated events have not caused any change in current security policies for the U.S. official community.

Other Areas of Concern

On October 17, 2018, the federal Cannabis Act legalized the recreational use of cannabis throughout Canada. British Columbia police have not seen a significant uptick in cannabis related crimes and continue to focus resources on the current fentanyl crisis. The pervasiveness of opioid dependence continues to drive property crimes upward. Pickpocketing and theft from parked cars in popular tourist destinations, such as Stanley Park and the area around the cruise ship terminal, are of particular concern. While areas near East Hastings Street and Main Street contain attractive boutiques and restaurants, individuals suffering from addictions are also out shopping for anything they can steal and sell to support their habit; treat the east-side corridor of downtown Vancouver with caution.

Transportation-Safety Situation

For more information, review OSAC’s report, Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights.

Road Safety and Road Conditions

British Columbia’s highway and road infrastructure is on par with that in the U.S. However, pedestrians and bicyclists downtown should use extreme caution, as a number of fatalities have involved either aggressive drivers or unobservant pedestrians. In winter, treacherous conditions are not unusual, and driving can be challenging. Traffic congestion plays a key role in road safety. Vancouver’s diverse population is home to people from around the world; many motorists may not be accustomed to driving in these conditions. For more information on self-driving, review OSAC’s report, Driving Overseas: Best Practices.

Terrorism Threat

Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns

There is minimal risk from terrorism in Vancouver. There are no known specific terrorist threats directed against officials or private U.S. citizens in British Columbia. However, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has publicly commented that there are a number of international terrorist organizations active in Canada, in part due to the porous Canadian/U.S. border and Canada’s political asylum policies. The issue of returning foreign fighters is an ongoing national security concern. 

Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence

Civil Unrest 

There is minimal risk from civil unrest in Vancouver. With close connectivity and proximity to the U.S., Canadians have a long and proud history of voicing concerns on a wide range of topics, including not only domestic issues but also U.S. policy. In 2016, media coverage of police-involved shootings in the U.S. prompted rallies across Canada. Since the U.S. presidential election, Vancouver has witnessed a surge in street demonstrations and protests in opposition to the U.S. administration. Public rallies, demonstrations, etc., are generally peaceful; the last time Vancouver experienced any sort of spontaneous street violence was when the Vancouver Canucks lost the Stanley Cup in 2012. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Vancouver Police Department (VPD) monitor protests closely. The RCMP and VPD each have a stake in providing first-response support capabilities when it comes to political/civil unrest.

Religious/Ethnic Violence

The Canadian constitution and other laws and policies protect religious freedom. When there are reports of societal discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practices prominent societal leaders often take positive steps to promote religious freedom and condemn intolerance.

However, per Statistics Canada, hate crimes in Canada have increased 47%, primarily targeting Muslims, Jews, and black people.

Post-specific Concerns

Environmental Hazards

Seismic experts indicate that the deep sediment-filled basin found within the Cascadia region, from western Washington State to northern British Columbia, could precipitate a major destructive earthquake (8.0-9.0 magnitude). The last major quake of this magnitude was nearly 350 years ago, and according to some experts, the region is long overdue for a significant seismic event.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change produces an hourly Air Quality Index report, with forecasts ranging from good to moderate air quality, similar to moderately sized U.S. cities.

Critical Infrastructure

Public Safety Canada identifies ten sectors of critical infrastructure (i.e. Health, Food, Finance, Water, Information and Communication Technology, Safety, Energy and Utilities, Manufacturing, Government, and Transportation). Canada’s critical infrastructure is massive, geographically dispersed, and owned by many different players, mostly in the private sector. Public Safety works with its partners to manage risks and reduce vulnerabilities across these sectors. Federal, provincial, and territorial governments, together with critical infrastructure owners/operators, share responsibility for critical infrastructure. Individuals also have a responsibility to be prepared for disruption and ready to cope for at least the first 72 hours of an emergency.

Canada and the United States share cross border critical infrastructure that govern the movement of people and goods. With refineries, nuclear facilities, large manufacturing operations, and other infrastructure located in close proximity to the border, as well as energy, critical supply and transportation networks that cross the border, impacts from disruptions can and do cross international jurisdictions. The Canada-United States Action Plan for Critical Infrastructure promotes resilience and an integrated approach to critical infrastructure protection by enhancing coordination of activities and facilitating continuous dialogue among cross-border stakeholders.

Economic Concerns

The RCMP, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and other Canadian law enforcement agencies are responsible for undertaking coordinated action to counter the threats posed by intellectual property crime within Canada. While the RCMP is a partner agency at the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, there were no known criminal prosecutions for counterfeiting in Canada in 2017. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) crime – copyright piracy and trademark counterfeiting – is a growing international phenomenon that generates huge losses for legitimate industry, the economy, and the Government of Canada.

According to INTERPOL, this type of crime has confirmed links to organized crime and terrorism. In addition to the tremendous losses to government tax revenues and the legitimate Canadian economy, recent seizures of counterfeit goods (e.g. pharmaceuticals, electrical products, auto parts, contaminated shampoo/food products) show that unscrupulous counterfeiters can jeopardize the health and safety of consumers. Canada remains the only G7 country identified in the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) 2018 Special 301 Report; Canada’s downgrade to the Priority Watch List this year reflects a failure to resolve key longstanding deficiencies in protection and enforcement of Intellectual Property.

Significant concerns include poor border and law enforcement with respect to counterfeit or pirated goods, weak patent and pricing environment for innovative pharmaceuticals, deficient copyright protection, and inadequate transparency and due process regarding geographical indicators.

Privacy Concerns

There is relatively low risk to privacy concerns in Canada. Canada has two federal privacy laws:

The Privacy Act governs the personal information handling practices on some 250 federal institutions. It limits the collection, use, sharing, and disclosure of individuals’ personal information. It also gives individuals the right to access and request correction of personal information about themselves held by the federal government.

The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) applies to the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information (e.g. age, name, ID numbers, and ethnic origin) in the course of commercial activity. Organizations and businesses must obtain an individual’s consent before collection, and individuals have the right to access and challenge the accuracy of their personal information held by an organization. PIPEDA is exempt in provinces that have privacy legislations similar to it; Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta have adopted private-sector legislation deemed substantially similar to the federal law.

Oversight of both federal Acts rests with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, who receives and investigates complaints.

Personal Identity Concerns

There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Canada.

Although Canada has effectively implemented laws mandating access to buildings for persons with disabilities, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States.

Drug-related Crimes

Not unlike elsewhere in North America, opioid-related deaths have risen significantly in western Canada. Vancouver is at the center of a multibillion annual drug trade in western Canada that has included significant illegal fentanyl and fentanyl precursor importation from China.

Marijuana cross-border trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, and homicide are primary activities of gangs. Gang tensions between international drug distribution networks, including Sikh, Asian, Punjabi, and Mexican organizations, remain high. No information currently suggests that organized criminal enterprises negatively affect U.S. private sector operations.   

Kidnapping Threat

Kidnapping for ransom is rare. However, dozens of international parental child abductions occur each year between the United States and Canada, with courts in both countries applying the Hague Abduction Convention. All provinces have their own central authority, which have strong relationships with the United States. They generally coordinate directly with the Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues on international child abduction cases, so the Consulate rarely becomes involved.

The National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains is an RCMP unit that maintains a national database for finding missing people and identifying human remains that links investigators nationwide when their cases match. The database provides support to police, coroners, and medical examiners and lets them compare their findings.

Police Response

Police agencies are extremely professional and proactive in their enforcement efforts. General response times are consistent with most U.S. cities. All police agencies and emergency medical services in British Columbia employ standard 911 capabilities. Both the RCMP and VPD possess well-trained, well-equipped specialized units that can be on the scene within 10-45 minutes. 

Working relationships between the U.S. officials and local authorities are excellent. There is a significant U.S. law enforcement presence in western Canada. Continuing cooperation between agencies on both sides of the border demonstrates that both countries are committed to combating organized crime and gang activity in the region.

How to Handle Incidents of Police Detention or Harassment

U.S. citizens should contact the U.S. Consulate’s American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit for assistance during normal business hours. U.S. citizens requiring urgent assistance after hours should contact the Consulate Duty officer. The Regional Security Office will address issues of police harassment.

Crime Victim Assistance

Although the Consulate enjoys an excellent working relationship with a number of host nation agencies, most notably the RCMP and the VPD, local police agencies seldom notify the U.S. Consulate when they receive reports of crimes involving U.S. citizens.

The Vancouver Police Department is the central repository for reporting crime within the city. Victims of crime should call 911.

Medical Emergencies

Contact Information for Available Medical Services

For medical assistance, refer to the Consulate’s Medical Assistance page.

Available Air Ambulance Services

British Columbia Ambulance Service: (604) 660-6006.

Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance

The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for Canada.

Insurance Guidance

Hospitals generally require up-front payment by cash or credit card, up to the total of all anticipated charges, from foreigners prior to services or treatment. Hospitals may waive up-front payment of other than a modest deposit if they have existing cashless agreements with at least some major international insurance providers. All hospitals provide some services free to Canadian citizens. All hospitals are required to provide emergency stabilization without regard to ability to pay. Provincial health insurance is available, at a cost, for all local residents if they do not have their own insurance. If visiting the area, it is best to pre-arrange insurance coverage prior to visiting.

OSAC Country Council Information

There is no active Country Council in Vancouver. Interested private-sector security managers should contact OSAC’s Western Hemisphere Team with any questions.

U.S. Consulate Location and Contact Information

107-1231 Pacific Blvd, Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 0E2

Consulate Contact Numbers

Operator (604) 685-4311

Consulate Duty officer (604) 681-3022

Nearby Posts: Embassy Ottawa, Consulate Calgary, Consulate Halifax, Consulate Montréal, Consulate Quebec, Consulate Toronto, , Consulate Winnipeg

Consulate Guidance

U.S. citizens traveling to Canada should register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to ensure they receive pertinent security updates and notices.

Additional Resource: Canada Information Sheet